The pace was set high from the start, with Japan's Ryunosuke Ito, a young flyhalf, dodging Australian defenders to score his first international try in just over 10 minutes into the game. Ito's performance is particularly impressive considering his limited experience on such a big stage.
Australia quickly countered three minutes later when Harry Potter exploited a gap in the Japanese defense. The Wallabies then took the lead with Tom Wright dashing through to score in the 26th minute, showing a fluid offensive line that kept the Japanese on their toes.
"We knew we had to come out strong and keep the pressure on," said Tom Wright.
The match saw its share of drama with Australian lock Miles Amatosero receiving a red card just before the half-time break. Despite being a man down, the Wallabies managed to regain their lead early in the second half when Max Jorgensen found the try line.
The Wallabies maintained a slim lead for a stretch, thanks to the solid efforts of Fraser McReight and Taniela Tupou who both added to the score sheet. Japan kept the pressure up with penalties and a late try by captain Warner Dearns, which brought the game within three points.
"It's about resilience, and we showed plenty of that today," noted Les Kiss after his first win as coach.
Ryunosuke Ito, Faulua Makisi, Kazuma Ueda, and Warner Dearns scored tries for Japan, with Takuro Matsunaga converting three and adding two penalties. On the Australian side, tries were scored by Harry Potter, Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Fraser McReight, and Taniela Tupou. Ryan Lonergan and Ben Donaldson were responsible for the conversions.
This intense clash sets the stage for a dramatic second test, as Japan seeks to even the series and claim their first victory over Australia. Meanwhile, Australia will look to maintain their momentum under the new leadership of Kiss, with an eye toward the upcoming World Cup.
Both teams displayed great skill and determination, leaving rugby fans eager for the rematch. As for Les Kiss, this victory could be the first step towards a successful tenure, potentially filled with more thrilling finishes such as this.
